Antioxidants - your weapon against oxidative stress

Plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain many components that are beneficial to human health. Research supports that some of these foods, as part of an overall healthful diet, have the potential to delay the onset of many age-related diseases. These observations have led to continuing research aimed at identifying specific bioactive components in foods, such as antioxidants, which may be responsible for improving and maintaining health.

Antioxidants are present in foods as vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and polyphenols, among others. Many antioxidants are often identified in food by their distinctive colors—the deep red of cherries and of tomatoes; the orange of carrots; the yellow of corn, mangos, and saffron; and the blue-purple of blueberries, blackberries, and grapes. The most well-known components of food with antioxidant activities are vitamins A, C, and E; β-carotene; the mineral selenium; and more recently, the compound lycopene.

Health Effects

The research continues to grow regarding the knowledge of antioxidants as healthful components of food. Oxidation, or the loss of an electron, can sometimes produce reactive substances known as free radicals that can cause oxidative stress or damage to the cells. Antioxidants, by their very nature, are capable of stabilizing free radicals before they can react and cause harm, in much the same way that a buffer stabilizes an acid to maintain a normal pH. Because oxidation is a naturally occurring process within the body, a balance with antioxidants must exist to maintain health.

Alkaline ionized water is a powerful natural antioxidant. This water is electrically charged and has a higher pH than normal tap or bottled water. A water ionizer treats tap water to form alkaline ionized water that shields the body from oxidative stress. In today's society most of our bodies have become overly acidic causing a greater risk of disease and illness. Alkaline ionized water helps to neutralize this excess acidity to establish an alkaline internal environment. An environment that nature intended for the body.

Learn more about alkaline ionized water at www.ChansonWater.com

It's The Radicals, Man

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Additionally, selenium, a trace metal that is required for proper function of one of the body's antioxidant enzyme systems, is sometimes included in this category. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet.

Vitamin E : d-alpha tocopherol. A fat soluble vitamin present in nuts, seeds, vegetable and fish oils, whole grains (esp. wheat germ), fortified cereals, and apricots. Current recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 15 IU per day for men and 12 IU per day for women.

Vitamin C : Ascorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin present in citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, kale, cantaloupe, kiwi, and strawberries. The RDA is 60 mg per day. Intake above 2000 mg may be associated with adverse side effects in some individuals.

Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A (retinol) and is present in liver, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, tomato, cantaloupe, peaches, and grains. Because beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A by the body there is no set requirement. Instead the RDA is expressed as retinol equivalents (RE), to clarify the relationship. (NOTE: Vitamin A has no antioxidant properties and can be quite toxic when taken in excess.)

Alkaline ionized water is a power natural anti-oxidant. It helps relieve oxidative stress and is upto six times more hydrating than normal tap or bottled water. For more information on alkaline ionized water and how it is obtained, visit www.ChansonAlkalineWater.com

Chronic Pancreatitis and Antioxidents

Extreme Pain in the upper abdominable area that exacerbates with eating is a symptom of Chronic Pancreatitis (CP)

Some poeple have experienced that antioxidants are effective in relieving pain and reducing levels of oxidative stress in patients with CP.

In a placebo-controlled, double blind trial, 127 CP patients received either placebos or antioxidants. At the end of six months, those in the antioxidant group had experienced far fewer pain-filled days than those in the placebo group. The chronic pancreatitis subjects who took antioxidants also took fewer pain pills. What's more , 32 percent of CP patients who took antioxidants became pain free. Pain relief began to be noticed after about three months of taking antioxidants.

"Abdominal pain, the predominant symptom in patients with CP, is difficult to treat. The main reason for a largely ineffective medical treatment is that the mechanism of pain in CP is not well understood"... Read the full article here http://www.naturalnews.com/025275_antioxidants_antioxidant_health.html